Housebuilding and wildlife need not be in conflict

Linden Homes has made a significant investment in the conservation of wildlife and its habitat by spending £250,000 on the introduction of a new ‘wildlife corridor’ as part of its Water Colour development in Redhill, proving housebuilding and wildlife need not be in conflict in the overcrowded south east.

There has been much conflict recently between the requirement for new homes in the south east and the need to protect wildlife and rare bird life in the area, which has resulted in a block on all plans for new housebuilding in the Thames Basin.

However Linden Homes’ new flagship community, Water Colour in Redhill, is an excellent example of how housebuilders can work with wildlife organisations to create new communities that co-exist successfully with local wildlife.

In association with The Surrey Wildlife Trust, Linden will fund the creation of several wetland habitats, focused around two large lagoons, a canal, stream and a series of reed beds. The north lagoon is largely open water with reed fringes and floating reed islands, while the south lagoon is more of a wet woodland, containing many varieties of tree and vegetation. These habitats will become the fourth site alongside three existing wildlife reserves to form a wildlife corridor along Redhill Brook, a tributary of the River Mole.

Construction of the sanctuary is underway, and birds are already the most evident wildlife to be seen and heard on the reserve, including waders, swans, several species of wildfowl, cormorants, moorhens and coots. The reeds will attract many more species including reed warblers and possibly even the extremely rare Bittern during the winter months.

The Surrey Wildlife Trust is confident that the sanctuary floor will eventually provide a habitat for otters and water voles, as well as a number of the more usual species, such as the water shrew, grass snakes and harvest mice.

While this area will remain undisturbed by traffic or development, positive integration between residents and the wildlife is a major focus for the development. Residents of the Water Colour village will be able to walk around the sanctuary on a series of wooden pathways and viewing platforms over one of the lagoons. These footpaths also offer routes to and from the roads and parked vehicles, for residents living in traffic-free areas bordering the waterways.

Philip Davies, Chief Executive of Linden Homes comments:

“We are proud to have worked hand in hand with Surrey Wildlife Trust to create a community where residents and wildlife can co-exist on each other’s doorsteps. The Water Colour project proves what developers and conservation groups can achieve when they work together.”

Surrey Wildlife Trust Chief Executive Nigel Davenport adds:

“Holmethorpe Lagoons Nature Reserve at Water Colour is a project which meets everyone’s demands. This site will make a big contribution to the preservation of wildlife in the eastern end of the county and it will help us all to work to protect Surrey’s special places for the next generation.”

Homes are currently available at Water Colour from £264,995 for two-bedroom terrace homes with private gardens, en-suite master bedrooms, parking and access to the communal ‘secret garden’. Four-storey, four bedroom homes with an additional study and top-floor garden room leading to a spacious terrace balcony, start at £575,000.

Visit lindenhomes.co.uk for more information.